A truly monumental day was in store as we headed east out of Valladolid for our Ribera del Duero day. Our first stop was Finca Villacreces – situated adjacent to the legendary Vega Sicilia – this estate is part of the Vina Izadi Rioja group run by Lalo Anton. I have been selling their wines for a number of years and have always been impressed with their quality. They have a beautiful property encompassed by pine trees that affords some protection against the vagaries of frost and rain and wind.
Silvia hosted our visit and gave us a wonderfully concise insight into vineyard operations, cellar activities and the experimental vineyard. A great tasting ensued. We tasted their Verdejo from Rueda and Toro red before contrasting their three Ribera del Duero wines. The Pruno is one of the best known sub £20 wines in the region brought to fame by Robert Parker. The Finca de Villacreces is a classic top quality example and the Nebro was a truly outstanding single vineyard old vine example of just how great Ribera wines can be.
This was a great start to the day.
From Villacreces it was an hour drive to Bodegas Valduero – one of the most prestigious estates in Ribera and a favourite of mine for many years. We were hosted by my great friend Alfonso who runs export sales in Europe. Alfonso is hugely entertaining and a wonderful ambassador for Valduero and Ribera wines generally. He took us on a magical tour of the cellar built into the hillside, talked us through the philosophy of the two sisters who run the estate and led us through the barrel cellar and into the Barrel Club section where we duly signed our barrel lid and put it alongside the names of many Spanish and international luminaries from the world of arts, gastronomy, politics and sport.
We admired the displays by artists made from Valduero barrels, photographs don’t really do justice to the experience!
Our fabulous tasting was of their Albillo white, three reservas and a gran reserva that showed the impeccable quality and style of the Valduero estate. Lunch was a triumph – chorizo, morcilla, cheeses, roast lamb, salad, – all perfect accompaniments to wines.
Words don’t do justice to the amazing quality of wine, food and hospitality we experienced on this memorable day.